D&D 5E PC races that a DM has specifically excluded from their campaign and why

[Casimir Liber]

Apropos of other threads (with all the halfling-bashing ), a question for all DMs out there - are there any races that people have excluded from their campaign for any reason - too boring/duplicative/don't fulfil a storyline - or have they radically changed them to fit the campaign.

 

[pming]

Hiya!

"Genericka" homebrew world... no exclusions.

"Greyhawk" ...PHB core, but limited Dragonborn and Tiefling (which has some SERIOUS consequences in CY 591!)

"Paeleen" homebrew world...no PHB other than Human, with modifications. All races (seven of them, 4 of which are inspired by the 'core four', each with three sub-races [Humans have 6 sub-races], all created by me).

So... it all depends on the campaign setting.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[iserith]

Almost all of my campaigns have curated PC race selections (and other options or limitations) that help drive everything toward the vision of the theme and flavor we're going for. It's pretty rare that I run a kitchen sink game and generally that's only when I expect more PCs per player than usual.

 

[aco175]

My group tends to play just PHB races and I can tolerate tiefling and dragonborn. I never had to say no tortle or grung or such.

 

[Casimir Liber]

Almost all of my campaigns have curated PC race selections (and other options or limitations) that help drive everything toward the vision of the theme and flavor we're going for. It's pretty rare that I run a kitchen sink game and generally that's only when I expect more PCs per player than usual.

Sounds eminently sensible...can you give some specifics?

 

[LordEntrails]

Kender

 

[el-remmen]

Dragonborn.

(Though I have allowed lizardfolk PCs since the 90s)

 

[Reynard]

I don't like gnomes (many reasons) and one campaign world had them extinct because they were the favorite food of gnolls. Gnolls ended being an available PC race later in that campaign.

Otherwise I usually limit to stuff on the PHB plus whatever might be specific to the campaign world (Eberoon warforged or shifters, or whatever). For my upcoming PlaneJammer campaign I have thrown the doors open. If it is in a book I own for Fantasy Grounds, or easily modeled therein, it's allowed. I have only had to say no to the "3 kobolds in a trenchcoat" suggestion.

 

[iserith]

Sounds eminently sensible...can you give some specifics?

The Dark Sun setting is a good example.

 

[ECMO3]

I don't like gnomes (many reasons) and one campaign world had them extinct because they were the favorite food of gnolls. Gnolls ended being an available PC race later in that campaign.

Weren't Gnomes extinct in 4E too?

 

[Hussar]

Weren't Gnomes extinct in 4E too?

Heh. Funny that. I saw more gnomes played in4e than just about any other time

 

[Hussar]

Gave up on curating races. Players always ignore me anyway. So now I’ll let people play what they want to play. Current lineup is an owlfolk, a Dragonborn, a tiefling, a warforged and a dream of an aboleth.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Elves.

Because they are elves.

 

[Zardnaar]

Generally say no to OP and let suck races.

In 5E that's Aaracokra and anything else that flies.

Dragonborn might get the ban hammer because they suck.

 

[bedir than]

are there any races that people have excluded from their campaign for any reason

My first campaign in 5e only had halflings, humans, and goliaths as playable races to start. It has now expanded to add dwarves, elves, forest gnomes, goblins, hobgoblins, and mulgoblins (a variant on bugbear)

 

[Casimir Liber]

Kender

yes I can see this...

 

[Casimir Liber]

Dragonborn.

(Though I have allowed lizardfolk PCs since the 90s)

I am really fond of lizardfolk and admit I am not overly sold on dragonborn...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I started my campaign limiting the available races to humans, dwarves and gnomes, to reflect who lived in the community. As the campaign has gone on, the doors have been thrown wide for choices in side campaigns, but always based on what's appropriate for that game. I've explicitly put Van Richten's lineages on the table for our upcoming Empire of the Ghouls campaign, for instance.

I prefer, where possible, to have each campaign to have a theme throughout, expressed through classes, subclasses, etc. For the most part, this has worked out fine, although there have had to be a few negotiations with players over the years.

 

[Maxperson]

Dragonborn, because the minimize the mystery and majesty of dragons.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Every race is allowed except for Kenku and Yuan-Ti. Yuan-Ti because they're mechanically bonkers, and Kenku because they're unequivocally the most annoying race to play as in the game.